Propeller mechanism



April 9, 1929. I F. J. KRDEL 1,708,475

PROPELLER MECHANISN Filed SeptulO. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 9, 1929. F. J. KRDEL 1,708,475

PROPELLER MECHANISM Filed Sept. l0. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C27??? JE "del y Wfl@ Patented pr. 9, 1929.

1,708,475" UNITIEIDF'STATIEIS `PATENT OFFICE.

:FRANK a. KRDEI., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR oF ONE-SEVENTH To JOHN T.

DE REMER, ONE-SEVENTH TO JAMES F.' ONE-SEVENTH T0 HENRY I-I. KRDEL,

GILDEA, ONE-SEVENTH TO D. A. MCCARTHY, ONE-SEVENTH TO FRED F. KESSLER, AND

ONE-SEVENTH TO CLAUDE vM. ERCANBRACK, ALL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROPELLER Application filed September This invention relates to an improvedop- Yerating mechanism for fluid propellers.l

More particularly it is concerned with the construction of the blades therefor, of the mountings wherein the blades are carried, and of the means employed for imparting motion to the blades. The present construction also Ycombines theadvantages of being inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, durable and dependable in service, and economical to operate. 1

A suggestive embodiment of my invention is set forth in the accompanying drawings whereinv Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the propeller mechanism in its entirety; y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in longitudinal section of one blade together with the mounting therefor; Y

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. i is an enlarged transverse takenvon line 41-4 of Fig. `1.

The mechanism herein shown may comprise a pair of uprights 5 in the form of supports through the upper ends of which are extended sleeves 6 which constitute bearings for a main shaft 7. The parts associated with each sleeve are alike so that a description of but one need be given. i 'Y A tlange9 which is formed at the inner end of the sleeve abuts a hub 10 mounted fast upon the shaft, the hub being provided also with a radially extending flange 11. Between the sleeve iiange and hub is an annusection lar raceway 12, shown as pearssh'a'ped in crosssection, wherein may b eeacicommodated balls 13 forming an anti-.friction thrust bearing. Mounted fast on the sleeve adjacent its fiange is a sun gear 14 in mesh With a plurality of idler gears 15, four being the suggested number. These idler gears are confined in place betweena head plate 16 having a marginal iange 17 and a bearing plate 18 the periphery of Which lies Within and adjacent the flange of the head plate. A cap plate 19 which is inclined as at 2() near its edges is receivable also within the contines of the flange 17 so as to abut the bearing plate at this point. Elsewhere the capplate 19 is spaced away from the bearing plate for the accommodation of certain parts which will MECHANISM.

1o, 1927. serial No. 218,786.

may be connected in unitary relation by bolts 2l which extend therethrough, a ring 22 being interposed between the head and bearing plates to ensure proper separation for the accommodation of the sun gear 14, the idler gears 15, and other planetary gears 23 in mesh with the latter.

Each idler gear may be freely mounted upon a headed pin 24 which extends through the bearing plate 18 and the head plate as well as the flange 11 of the hub 10. A nut 25 may be secured adjustably to the exposed end of this pin, which is screw-threaded for the purpose, and serves to lock the head assembly to the hub so as to cause rotation of the vformer when the latter is revolved in response to turning of the shaft 7. The planplacement. The space between the capv and y bearing plates is sufficient for the accommodation of the parts so carried by the ends of the shaft 26. The cap plate 19 is shown as fitting closely around the sleeve 6 between one end of the support 5 and a spacer block 28 which extends to the bearing plate 18. The construction thus provided is suiiiciently reinforced to withstand all rigors of ordinary usage.

It is contemplated that a rotary force from a power source (not shown) vwill be applied to the shaft 7 for transmitting turning movements thereto. Itis desirable that means be provided for a limited oscillation of the sleeve 6 whereby to shift the positions of the mountings forthe idler gears, with a consequent advance or retardation inthe positions of the planetary gears. For this purpose, I mount fast on the `main shaft a sprocket Wheel 29 adjacent the outer end of one support 5, and over this Wheel run a chain 30 which connects With any suitable control (not shown). Adjacent the sprocket Wheel is a split collar 31 having therein a pear-shaped raceway 32 for accommodating balls 33, this collar being locked in position by a nut 34 which is screw-threaded on the end of shaft 7. The means described, in conjunction with the ball raceway 12, heretofore noted, will resist effectively all end thrusts which vare developed during operating ofthe present mechanism. Y

A bore 35 which extends longitudinally within the shaft 7` communicates with one or Y v vgasketsor otherwise so as to prevent escape of fluid therefrom.

The mechanism heretofore described is suited admirably for theoperation ofcertain propeller blades having an improved construction, such as will now be described. One

such blade'is carried upon each shaft 26 so. as to be revolved with movement of the plan-y etarygears. As shown in Fig. 2, I provide through eachkof said shafts a longitudinal ""slot 40 in Which'may be inserted the backbone or main supporting plate 4l for the blade. This'plate has slots 42 and 43 at opposite ends, .the latter being the longer to permit the blade, when inserted through the li'shaft slot, to bef'shifted endwise toa final position, as shown. When so positioned, the blade is'secured 'by one or more pins 44.

With the plate 4l so'made fast to the shaft 26,-I associate a pair of outer plates 450cy`1cupying ypositions upon opposite sides thereof. These outer plates connect as at 46 directly with the supporting plateV 4l adjacent the edges thereof, and diverge so as Vto extend around the shaft 26 upon opposite sides therebf. VTheyl present inzefect a stream-lilreconstruction -When'so related tothe main supporting plate 41 and the shaft 26 on which the blade is carried. Additional connections between the outer and supporting plates may beprovided by channel braces 47 which are placed between the shaft 26 and the connecytions 46. Pins 48 may be passed 'through these channels andthe associated plates( whereby to vprovide a unitary construction. Each blade,

Y furthermore, carries on its outer plates a plu- Y vplates of the blade on which they are as best'indicated in Fig. 1.

` From the preceding descriptiom'itrwill be apparentthat I have provideda planetary rality of vanes, preferablyof two-part construction,'comprising a pair of walls 49 arranged in adj acentrelation and a base flange 50 which, by pins or rivets 5l, is'sec'ured to the outer plates 45. The lvanes so formed extend ltransversely and outwardly from the transmission forthe operation ofthe several blades of the' present propeller. The angular carried,

cessful and prolonged operation. The blades are, furthermore, constructed in such a manner as ,to possess a maximum of strength with a minimum of Weight, and this is of particular advantage when the apparatus is employed f on aeroplanes, airships, helicopters, etc.

I claim: Y

l. Apropellerv mechanism in which is comv prised a head having spaced plates in unitary relation, a train of gearing between the plates of the head, ashaft'ivith which the head is connectedV for rotation, means for setting the gear train in niotionfa third plate associated with the headin spaced relation, and means for holding the several head plates apart a fixed distance, substantially as described.

A propeller mechanism in which is comprised a. slotted shaft mounted to travel through a circular orbit, and a blade carried by the shaft comprising a central supporting plate inserted-through the shaft slot, a pair of outer plates disposed on opposite sides of the shaft and converging toward eachV other adjacent opposite edges of the main plate, means securing the three plates in unitary relation, land varies extending laterally from the outer plates, substantially as described. i i' I 3. A propeller mechanism in which is com- 'priseda revolvable shaft anoimted to travel in a circularorbit, and a -blade'carried fast by said shaft comprising a pair' of plates extended along opposite sides thereof, and con# verging toward their opposite edges, means for securing the plates to leach other-and to the'shaft, and vanes' carried `by said plates,

substantially as described.

4. A propeller mechanism in which is comprised arevolvable shaft formed with a longitudinal slot therethrough, and a blade carried fast by the shaft comprising a main suD- porting plate having at opposite ends thereof-slots ofunequal depth, the piate being receivable throughy the shaft slot the length `whereof is slightly less than the `plate permitting the latter, -whe'nshifted endwise in one direction, to interlock therewith, and vanes,extending'transversely onopp'ositesides of said plate' and having means for connecting therewith, substantially as described.

FRANK 1J. KRDEL. 

